bespoke kitchens - Robinson and Cornish...interiors and drawers are made in cherry wood at the...

bespoke kitchens

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»A kitchen tailored to youand your home.«

Every Robinson and Cornish kitchen is original.We believe that the kitchen should be be createdto fulfil your requirements, and complement theperiod character of your home. We design yourkitchen, for you, for your house.

We don’t have a set range of furniture, styles and finishes. Each

kitchen we create is designed and built for each individual cus-

tomer, and each individual property. We talk to you, we listen to

what you want, and we use our extensive experience and skills

to create a kitchen that is completely bespoke, and personal –

just for you.

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Fred und Ralf Stegkemper

Robinson and Cornish was founded in England by Howard Robinson and George Cornish, to

design and build bespoke traditional kitchens.

In 1997, brothers Ralf and Fred Stegkemper took the design and ethos into Europe with Robinson

and Cornish Germany. Their conviction to provide a first class product and service, has enabled

Robinson and Cornish to flourish and become the leader in it’s field throughout Germany, Austria

and Switzerland. At the heart of the company is the high quality manufacturing and production

facility in East Westfalia, which also produced the furniture for English kitchens. Ralf and Fred

Stegkemper are your first point of contact on the continent. They will be able to speak to you

personally, and advise you on your project.

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Custom Made

Furniture

Each piece of furniture in a Robinson and Cornish

kitchen, whether built-in or freestanding, is built to

exacting standards by highly skilled craftsmen. We

employ traditional design and construction methods,

with modern technology discretely incorporated

where appropriate. We use only the highest quality

materials and components for our furniture. Your

kitchen will be designed & built to not only look

good and function perfectly, but to do so every day

for many years to come.

Personal Service

Robinson and Cornish prides itself on offering a

very personal service. We start each kitchen project

with a personal visit. Here we look at the room and

listen to your wishes and requirements. From this

we develop an initial design layout and elevations.

We will then present this to you along with costs.

We will advise you on appliances, accessories and

paint schemes. We will liase with architects, interior

designers, builders and associated trades to ensure

the project goes ahead smoothly and on time. We are

always available to answer any questions throughout

the project.

The Art of Understatement

Our customers often tell us that our kitchens look

as if they have been there for ever. We work very

hard at this. We don’t slavishly follow the latest fads

in kitchen designs – whats in vogue today can often

seem tired tomorrow. Instead we work with classic

and traditional styles that have stood the test of time,

and are in harmony with the period and style of the

house. So for us, it is a compliment when a customer

tells us that their Robinson and Cornish kitchen

looks as if it has always been there!

The following pages show some examples of our

work. They are all finished projects in the homes

of our customers.

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When the owners first viewed this 18th

century Dorset manor house on a cold

winter’s day, the warmth from the Aga left such

an abiding impression that when they bought the

house, they were determined to keep it. The problem

was the location; the Aga was situated awkwardly

close to the door. Robinson and Cornish suggested

moving it to a more prominent position in the centre

of one wall, while at the same time creating a false

chimney breast and overmantel to conceal the flue,

thus giving the room a focal point. The impressive

housekeepers cupboard took it’s inspiration from a

piece of furniture in a West Country manor house.

We also built the island, the pew seating and installed

the tongue-and-groove panelling. A green slate was

chosen for the worktops and floor, which contrasts with

the ivory painted woodwork. Two under mounted

Belfast sinks are set below the window to make the

most of the wonderful views. Soft furnishings are by

Osborne & Little.

»I just wanted to keep the Aga,but couldn’t live without a microwave.«

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This house is home to a large family with four

children. The kitchen furniture is designed to

have a simply styled and fuss-free aesthetic, and we

feel we have managed to achieve this perfectly. It is

dominated by a professional quality Viking range in

stainless steel and lemon yellow enamel. The family

wished to keep their existing glass fronted refrigera-

tor, so this was incorporated into the layout – where

it now adds a strong sculptural element to the kitch-

en. The woodwork is painted throughout in a light

grey traditional eggshell finish, with all worktops in

solid lacquered oak.

The adjacent utility room has been designed to

convey a light and airy feeling. It features high

level painted shelving, hanging for coats, and an

oak bench for the children to change their shoes.

There are also oak laundry shelves, with large

wicker baskets to cope with the mountains of

laundry a growing family can produce.

»An elegant and functional kitchen design,that combines classical and traditional

elements, and perfectly suits our lifestyle.«

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The decision to build a new extension for their

kitchen, allowed this young couple in the South

West to create a large open space. This has given them

ample room to cook for the whole family or a party of

guests. For the five children, it’s just fantastic to have

a place to do homework, play, paint or just to help in

the kitchen.

Working closely with the client, we produced a detailed

working design for the new family kitchen. Central to

the layout is the large island as wished for. This fea-

tures an auxiliary prep sink, and is constructed entire-

ly in solid oak with a honed granite worktop. At one

end of the island is a traditional teak butcher’s block

with additional storage space underneath. Kitchen ap-

pliances have been discreetly built into the furniture.

The client wanted the very best in modern technology,

but did not always want it on show. To complete the

high specification wish list, the owners chose a large

Aga with an imposing overmantel for the focal point.

This is supplemented by a combination of three extra

ovens, a large fridge-freezer (built into a double cup-

board) and two dishwashers.Two additional pull-out

refrigerator drawers are built into the island for fresh

fruit and vegetables. To complete the kitchen, we also

designed and made a large bespoke circular dining

table in European oak.

»I wanted a large family kitchen that wecould all feel at home in, I wanted well made

furniture and a large island to work at.«

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This family fulfilled a dream: They moved into

an ancient castle in Austria, and with a lot of

effort and attention to detail, have made it beautifully

habitable again. In this rambling property, the kitch-

en has been made a focal point where the family can

meet and get together. Our task was to design a comfort-

able kitchen, with a homely and inviting atmosphere.

The kitchen furniture takes its design cues from the

existing architectural details of the property. The Aga

and surrounding overmantel overlook the kitchen,

with a large island and prep sink forming the central

focus. The appliances have been seamlessly and-

discretely integrated into the furniture, to make the

kitchen fully functional as well as a visual delight.

For the main worktops, the client opted for solid oiled

oak with a honed black granite to the island. The pale

green finish for the woodwork was inspired by the

client’s collection of Wedgwood. All the elements have

come together to create a welcoming and inviting

kitchen which complements the property – just as the

customer wanted. “Since we’ve settled into the kitchen,

even my husband has taken up cooking!”

»The kitchen fits the house beautifully,it is as if it has always been there.«

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Style & function characterize this sophisticated

home of a family of five in Northern Germany.

By being able to consider the kitchen whilst at the

planning stage of the building, the owner has man-

aged to create a spacious and elegant retreat for the

whole family. At the heart of the house is the family

kitch-en. A large La Cornue stove has been built into

an impressive fireplace with overmantel. The stove

itself was built to the specific requirements of the

client, to incorporate various cooking methods. The

work surfaces are in honed green granite, which

complements the classic elegance of the kitchen. The

large island features an integrated wine cooler and an

oak top. The open kitchen extends into the dining area.

Clever use of a corner has enabled us to build in a large

walk-in cupboard. This is fitted out with solid oak

shelving & crockery drawers to create a purpose built

storage for dishes and plates. We have also created

a small breakfasting area, as well as the window seats

in the adjacent dining area.

»We have managed to combine English stylewith French cuisine and German perfection –

an ideal combination!«

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The kitchen of this fabulous Arts & Crafts villa

is located on ground f loor, with access to the

terrace and garden. Working closely with the owners

we have created a spacious open kitchen, which is in

perfect harmony with the architectural period of the

house. The entrance hall and staircase featured some

fine period detailing, which provided the styling clues

for the overmantel and door mouldings, thus ensuring

a visual continuity throughout the house. Cupboard

interiors and drawers are made in cherry wood

at the clients request. Cherry wood worktops add

to make for a warm and welcoming character.

The cooking range is a La Cornue ‘chef ’ model, with

ceramic hob tops. A small peninsula incorporates

extra storage for bottles and sundries.

»Working on a listed building requires asympathetic approach. Robinson and Cornish

have understood this perfectly.«

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Each Robinson and Cornish kitchen isunique. We see it as an expression of ourconviction that the kitchen should be invisual harmony with the style and periodof your home. At the same time it shouldincorporate practical features to comple-ment the way you live and cook. It is anapproach which requires a meticulousand often inventive attention to detail.

ConstructionAll Robinson and Cornish furniture whether built-in

or freestanding, is built to the highest possible stan-

dard by our skilled team of cabinet makers, joiners

and fitters. All doors are hung in separate frames,

using solid brass hinges in the traditional manner.

Drawers are supported on the highest quality modern

runners for effortless operation and reliability.

Fine detailsWe pride ourselves on our attention to the smallest

de-tails. Drawers are in solid oak or ash as standard,

and are of dovetailed construction. Removeable

cutlery inserts are lined with green baize, and utensil

drawers feature adjustable divides.

PaintingYour kitchen is delivered in a factory finished primer,

ready for hand painting. Once everything is installed

and perfectly finished, our painters will prepare and

hand paint the kitchen to your specification. Our paint-

ers will contact you prior to installation to discuss

colours and finishes with you. You can supply colour

samples, or fabric swatches as a starting point and

they will be able to advise on combinations of paint

colours and special paint finishes.

To create the perfect kitchen for you, wehave some practical solutions which canbe tailored to suit your individual requi-rements.

The larder cupboardThis is a classic storage solution. A larder will provide

a generous amount of storage. It can feature internal

drawers, marble or granite shelves, spice and bottle

racks, or even a coffee machine and sink. It can be de-

signed as a freestanding piece of furniture, built in, or

incorporated into the fabric of the building. A larder

or a housekeeper’s cupboard will make a truly im-

pressive feature in any kitchen.

Kitchen islandThe island not only provides extra work space and

storage, it is also an architectural element which adds

a feel-good factor to any kitchen. It becomes a perfect

spot for morning coffee, or enjoying a glass of wine

or an aperitif. The island can be the place where you

pre-pare food, arrange a buffet, or simply relax and

chat with friends.

More than just kitchensRobinson and Cornish don’t just deal with the kitch-

en, we can turn our attention to the whole house.

We also design for the adjoining rooms – the utility

or boot room, as well as furniture for the study,

dining room, or bathroom and bedroom.

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Attention to detail

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Dating back to the late the 19th century, this

mansion was originally built for the railway,

and is now in private ownership. The huge kitchen

is now at the centre of this lovingly restored house.

The priority for the lady of the house was a place to

cook and socialise with friends, which would be

com-fortable and functional. The scale of the layout

meant that we could be generous with the design and

incorporate a large island together with an adjacent

seating area, so that the cook could comfortably chat

with friends - without them getting too close to the

action! The worktops are oiled European oak, and a La

Cornue range is surrounded by a handsome overman-

tel, which complements the space perfectly. The

kitch-en also features a walk-in housekeepers cup-

board, built into an existing alcove. Fully fitted out

in oak with shelves and drawers for crockery, it has

latticed double doors designed & made by us. Robin-

son and Cornish also designed and manufacturedall

the other doors specifically for this project throug-

hout the entire refurbishment.

The end result has been a fantastic success. A light

and airy kitchen, which provides an informal space

to cook, chat and celebrate with friends.

»We wanted a kitchen for cooking, livingand working in.«

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This house in Northern Germany, was built

in 1947. It is situated near an idyllic nature

reserve, and has been restored to the highest standard.

The family has always loved the country life, so they

remodelled the house and garden to compliment their

modern rural lifestyle - whilst paying attention to the

fine details.

The client is an experienced cook and takes great ple-

asure in her cooking, therefore she had a very definite

expectation of what she wanted from her new kitchen.

The lady of the house wanted an authentic country sty-

le, combined with up to date technology. A visit to our

showrooms convinced her that our approach to design,

function and qualitywas what she wanted. We based

our layout on the perfect triangular working area. The

distance between fridge, oven, and sink are kept short,

everything is in just the right place for ease of use.

Storage cupboards, the larder, spice rack, integrated

appliances, and even a corner for making coffee, have

all been incorporated. We also designed a small office

area, which has plenty of space for her collection of

cookbooks and notes - which previously would have

cluttered up her dining table. We also designed the

multi-media wall unit with glazed cupboards, radiator

boxing and the window reveals in the dining area, a

cloakroom area with seat, and a housekeeper‘s cupboard

in the entrance hall.

»The highest level of practicalitycombined with a simple country style –

this is my ideal kitchen!«

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Most of the rooms in this German house

echo it’s 1920’s origins, but the owners

wanted their kitchen to reflect their contemporary

lifestyle. They were looking for something that

was both timeless and traditional. Our solution

was a design which combines an Aga with black

granite worktops to blend with the existing granite

f loor, and a central island with ash worktop to

complement the existing farmhouse table and

chairs. The simply designed drawers, cupboard

doors, and tongue and groove panelling are

painted a fresh white, and finished with simple un-

derstated fittings. The kitchen’s walls are finished in

a deep rich yellow, and when the sunlight floods the

room through the large windows and double French

doors, fills the room with warmth. The Belfast sink,

substantial turnings on the corners of the island, and

fully integrated appliances are all classic Robinson

and Cornish features.

»It’s an early 20th century German house,but I wanted something more relaxed and

typically English.«

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This magnificent property from the early Georgi-

an period is in a picturesque setting near Barnet

in Hertfordshire. Previous owners included the novelists

Kingsley Amis and Elizabeth Jane Howard. We were

given a free hand to design a kitchen as we saw fit

for the property. The kitchen is dominated by a large

central island, with built in microwave, knife drawers

and wine rack. Turned posts support ash slatted pot

boards. All interiors to the furniture are also in ash,

whilst work surfaces are in polished black granite.

For the far end of the kitchen, we built a handsome

glazed dresser with ash worktop. The adjacent utility

room/butler’s pantry features a mix of cupboards and

open shelving, a Belfast sink and oiled teak worktops.

Our painters finished the woodwork in a delicate duck

egg blue, which is brought to life by the daylight that

floods in from the large windows.

The impressive stainless steel batterie de cuisine over

the island, was also specially designed and made by

us. Other pieces of furniture in this kitchen include

a large coat cupboard, boot shelves, and the love seat

which is featured inside the front of this brochure.

»A fantastic space - this huge hall needed asuitably impressive design for the kitchen.«

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I n the spring of 2007 the present owners had the

opportunity to acquire “the most beautiful house

on the Isle of Amrum”. Needless to say, they did not

hesitate for a moment. After twelve months of reno-

vation, the owners were finally able to move in.

Robinson and Cornish were called in at an early stage

to design the kitchen, which has resulted in a space

which integrates perfectly with the rest of the house.

Creating a family-friendly space for their holiday

home was very important here. We designed a time-

less country-style kitchen, which was informal and

easy to relax in. Two sinks and generous work sur-

faces allow plenty of space for preparation and cooking.

A breakfast bar and seating at the end of the island

provides the perfect spot for relaxing with a coffee,

or just sitting and chatting, linking the cooking end

of the kitchen with the dining area beyond.

»The kitchen fits so beautifullywith the rest of the house.«

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The owners of this spacious house saw it as a

meeting place for their whole family. The

grown up children liked to congregate here at

weekends, bringing friends and partners. Weekends

are spent out doors in the large gardens, swimming

and relaxing, with the evenings spent cooking, eat-

ing and entertaining. The owner is an enthusiastic

cook, and he took a special interest in the details of

the kitchen layout and specification. He now has

the well planned and well designed kitchen that he

wished for. His wife’s priority was simply to have a

comfortable and relaxed place to be, and this kitchen

perfectly meets the needs of both of them.

Worktops are in 30mm polished black granite, with

an additional 50mm teak drainer to the island sink.

The island also incorporates a breakfast overhang and

purpose built knife drawer.

»We needed a kitchen in which the whole family could get together with friends and partners,it had to be well thought out and planned.«

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AppliancesThe first priority, is quality and product performance.

We select appliances that fit with the way you like to

cook and work. We only recommend appliances from

leading manufacturers in the field; those whom we

feel can supply the best in equipment, reliability and

service.

Range cookersThe heart of a kitchen is often the range cooker. We

can make this a stunning focal point of your kitchen.

Whether you long for a traditional Aga, a continental

range, or a contemporary stainless steel cooker, we

will make sure that it fits your kitchen perfectly.

Beautiful and practicalThe traditional plate rack is a classic design solution.

It provides a practical means of storing plates and

bowls so that they are easily accessible. Constructed

in ash or teak, the rack is removeable for cleaning.

Modern kitchen technologyKitchen appliances today are designed to be built into

the furniture, and integrate perfectly into the design.

Most appliances - microwaves, ovens, steam ovens or

coffee machines can all be accommodated into our

furniture. Some appliances such as dishwashers, and

refrigeration can be completely concealed behind

furniture doors.

WorktopsWe offer a wide choice of worktop materials which

will give a practical work surface. Making the choice

is not always straightforward, as each material has its

own advantages and disadvantages. We work closely

with the leading granite suppliers, and have a full

sample service available. Robinson and Cornish have

many years experience in producing our own timber

worktops, and are happy to specify teak for drainers,

or a European hardwood for a dresser, desktop or

butcher’s block. We will also work with some of the

more exotic timbers if you desire.

Other accessoriesWe can incorporate many other accessories to make

your kitchen a delight and pleasure to use; for example,

a specially made drawer with a set of fine hand-made

Solingen kitchen knives, or a traditional end grain

butchers block in oiled teak.

A high quality kitchen requires high quality appliances. We place great emphasis on specifying the highest quality & best designed appliances. For cooking, product quality and performance are paramount. We listen to your requirements, and we specify first class appliances and ancilliaries to suit your needs.

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Appliances & accessories

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Knobs and handlesFor these we specify from the ranges of the finest

manufacturers of traditional furniture fittings. These

are available in a variety of materials and finishes

chosen to complement your design.

TapsHigh quality, hand finished, cast brass or stainless steel

taps are specified. These are from English or German

manufacturers, and are chosen for style and reliability.

Pot fillers, hand rinses and soap dispenserscan all be

included in your design.

SinksThe traditional ceramic Belfast sink is a popular fea-

ture in our period kitchens. Robust, capacious, and

styl-ish, they add a timeless, welcoming feel to any

kitchen. For those that prefer, we also specify high

grade stainless steel sinks in a range of combinations.

Hand made tilesRobinson and Cornish is a distributor for the exclusive

range of handmade tiles by Alice Gibbons. These take

their designs from the Natural History Museum’s vast

archives of historic plant and animal prints. Each tile

is hand moulded and glazed in the traditional manner,

and will give a classic look to a kitchen. We are also

happy to include other materials and styles, and can

supply custom made stainless steel or glass back-spla-

shes, dependant on your choice.

After we have done all we can to plan and make your kitchen as perfect as possible, we need to ensure that the ancilliaries such as taps, sinks and handles are to the same high standard.

To find out more about our range of accessories, see:

www.robinsonandcornish.de

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The finishing touches

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The first visitIf you like what you have seen of our work, and know of our reputation, the first step is to contact

us, and arrange for one of our designers to make an appointment to visit you. During the visit we

will discuss your personal requirements, and develop a feel for the style and personality of your

house. We establish an idea of budget, and timescale for the project. We will also take the mea-

surements, from which we prepare a detailed plan. This is your opportunity to tell us exactly what

you want, what you need, and importantly, how you want to live and work in the space we will be

creating for you. We listen to what you want.

DesignBack at the office, we will prepare detailed plans and elevations of the proposed design. We will

then contact you to arrange a time to present these to you. We will explain in detail the layout,

along with the choice of materials, finishes, surfaces, appliances and fittings, and of course cost.

Our prices typically range from £40,000 to over £100,000. The design, layout and specification

are fully open to discussion and alteration at this stage, the aim is to fine-tune the design to give

you exactly what you want. Once you are happy with this, and wish to proceed, we will ask you

to sign a letter of engagement, and pay an initial deposit.

»Remember, it’s your kitchen.«

»Then we’re in business.«

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From design to completion

Production to installationUpon receipt of the deposit, we can then agree a provisional installation date and reserve workshop

production time. Up until production is due to commence, you are still free to make further adjust-

ments, although this may affect timing and costs. The project will be coordinated by us. Your architect,

interior designer, builder and other trades will all be kept informed of schedules and any special

instructions. We are always available to answer queries, and pass on information. Our aim is to en-

sure that the project goes ahead smoothly, and on time. Before production, we will send you a letter

of confirmation of specification to sign and return. Upon receipt of this, and the pre-production and

appliances payment from you, the manufacturing drawings can be prepared, appliances ordered, and

production can commence. Prior to installation, we will contact you for the pre-installation pay-

ment and check that the site is ready for us to install.

CompletionSoon after your kitchen installation is complete and painted, we will contact you to arrange our final

inspection. If anything needs adjusting, our fitters will make a return visit to take care of it. Once

you are happy that everything is completely satisfactory, we will invoice you for the final retainment.

Because we are very proud of the work we do, we may wish to ask to photograph your kitchen for

publicity, press or our website. If, and only if you consent to it, you may find that your kitchen has

become the inspiration for a future customer – who wants a kitchen just like yours, but to their

own personal requirements.

»You see, it’s made just for you.«

»Enjoy and live in your kitchen.«

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If you like what you have seen and under-

stand the way we work, and would like

a unique Robinson and Cornish kitchen

of your own, the next step is easy. Simply

give us a call and speak to us. We can

answer any questions you have, and will

be delighted to make an appointment to

come and meet you.

Robinson and Cornish GmbH

Bahnhofstraße 9 · D-32312 Lübbecke · Germany

Phone: +49 (0) 57 41 / 80 52 810

Fax: +49 (0) 57 41 / 80 52 819

E-Mail: [email protected]

Internet: www.robinsonandcornish.de

»It’s your choice.«

bespoke kitchens - Robinson and Cornish...interiors and drawers are made in cherry wood at the...

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